Description
This Easy Baked Tortellini is a comforting and delicious recipe featuring beefy marinara sauce and cheesy tortellini baked to bubbly perfection. It combines browned ground beef with garlic and Italian herbs, tossed with frozen cheese tortellini and layered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, baked until hot and golden. Perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara/pasta sauce
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 (22-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 3-quart baking dish, setting it aside for later use.
- Cook beef and season: In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the minced garlic until no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain excess fat. Season with garlic powder, dried basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add sauce and tortellini: Stir the marinara sauce into the seasoned ground beef. Rinse the frozen tortellini under warm water for about a minute to slightly thaw, then drain well. Stir the tortellini into the meat sauce mixture.
- Combine cheese and assemble: Remove the pot from heat and stir in half of the grated mozzarella cheese. Transfer the tortellini and meat sauce into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the dish is hot, bubbly, and golden on top.
Notes
- If you prefer fresh herbs, use three times the amount in place of dried herbs for brighter flavor.
- Enhance nutrition and flavor by adding grated vegetables into the meat sauce as it cooks.
- You can substitute refrigerated cheese tortellini for frozen tortellini without adjusting the recipe.
- If using dried tortellini, cook them according to package directions before mixing with the sauce and proceeding with baking.
- Make sure to slightly thaw the frozen tortellini before baking to ensure even cooking and tenderness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
